Smoke consumer



Jan. 4, 1927. v ,613,564

F.D.HOFFMAN SMOKE CONSUMER Filed Jan. 11. 1926 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 5640. H0 man ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1927.

. 1,613,564 F. D. HOFFMAN SMOKE CONSUMER- Filed Jan. 11. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Z 7 a4 fig. 2.

' INVENTOR Q 1 fies B H0 an ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

ll SITE nausea FRED D. HOFFMAN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HOFFMAN SMOKE .ABATOR COMPANY, OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI, A COMMON-LAW TRUST.

SMOKE CONSUMER.

Application filed January 11, 1926. Serial No. 80,515.

My invention relates to smoke consumers and has for its principal object to interrupt flow of unburned particles of carbon within or on the way to the flue to prevent escape of the particles with the non-combustible gases and efiect their return to the furnace wherein they originated; thereby effecting a saving of the fuel and avoiding release of the carbon particles in the form of smoke.

In accomplishing the above and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a smoke consumer embodying my invention, illustrating its use in connection with a flue and furnace of ordinary construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, central, vertical section of the smoke consumer.

-Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4; is an inverted perspective view of one of the water pipe branches, particularly illustrating the jet opening.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an ordinary type of coal burning furnace, 2 an ordinary type of flue, and

3 the smoke pipe leadingfrom the furnace.

Interposed in the smoke pipe between the furnace and the flue, is a housing 4: preferably comprising a casting, having a door opening 5 normally closed by. adoor 6, having an opening 7 in its front face below the door opening for receiving the smoke pipe 3, and an opening .8 in its rear face near the top for the collar 9 which fits within the housing opening 8 and within the smoke pipe opening 10 of the flue 2. The collar may be made an integral part of the housing 4 if desired.

Extending upwardly along the back of the housing near the transverse center thereof is a pipe 11, having three-way unions 12 at spaced intervals throughout its height, the angular members of the unions carrying branch pipes 13 which extend forwardly through the rear wall of the housing f to 59 near the front thereof, the branch pipes having caps 14 closing their front free ends and each having a double row of ports 15 spaced slightly at its under side to deliver jets of water downwardly and laterally within the housing.

Pivotally mounted on each of the branch pipes 13, by ears 16, is a pair of baffleplates i 17, preferably corrugated longitudinally to provide pockets for particles of combustion caught by the plates during travel of the particles upward through the housing with the flue gases. The branch pipes are located centrally within the housing and the baffies extend downwardly and outwardly from their pivotal mountings and are adapted to mesh with corresponding baflie plates 18 hingedly mounted on rods 19 extending between and preferably through the front and back walls of the housing, the baffles 18 having ears 20 corresponding to the cars 16 on. the main set of baffle plates heretofore described, whereby the auxiliary baflies are pivotally mounted on their rods 19.

Connected with each vertical series of baffle plates of the main set is a chain or the like 21 I connected at its upper end with a crass bar 22 that is suspended from a chain. 23 run through an opening (not shown) in the top of the housing, and over guide pulleys 24 and 25, from the latter of which it extends downwardly and is connected with the front draft door 26 of the furnace 1.

Suspended from each end of the cross bar 22 within the housing is a chain 27 which is connected with each of the baffle plates 18 of a supplemental side series so that when the bar 22 is raised or lowered to vary the angularity of the primary bafife plates, it likewise raises or lowers the chain 27 to similarly vary the angularity of the auxiliary baflle plates, in this way providing a draft regulation within the housing supplemental and proportional to the draft regulation through the front draft opening of the furnace.

The chain 23 leading from the baffle plates to the furnace draft door is connect ed at a convenient point with a regulator, (preferably thermostatic) indicated by the housing 28, having a shaft 29 operated or retarded in any suitable manner (not shown) from Within the housing and having an arm 30 connected with the-chain 23 so that when the chain is raised or lowered to adjust the draft door and the b affle plates, it is held in position to maintain the adjustment.

Leading form the bottom of the housing 4 is a pipe 81 which opens through the furnace above the fire bowl and terminates in a spreader 82 whereby contents of the housing may be drained of]? and delivered back to the furnace for combustion therein.

The pipe 11 is provided with a valve 33 whereby flow of water to the interior of the housing may be controlled and regulated. The drain pipe 31 is provided with a valve 3 whereby back flow to the furnace may be controlled, and with a valved waste connection 35 through which contents of the housing may be carried off for disposition otherwise than by consumption in the furnace.

I also prefer to employ in connection with my improvemen an exhaust fan 36 which may be located within the collar 9 leading from the housing 4: to the flue and operable from an electric motor 37, the fan being preferably mounted on the-extended motor I shaft 38.

Assuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, the operation is as follows:

When the furnace is fired, the front draft door 26 is opened by lifting of the chain 23, providing slack at the flue and of the chain which enables the weight ofthe baffle plates to lower the chain and permit the plates to hang in substantially the position shown in Fig. 1, in which they are spread to a degree at which the primary plates mesh with the supplemental plates and provide a double, tortuous, vertical passage through the housing l suficient to interrupt flow of unburned particles of carbon, but not sufficient to materially interfere with the draft.

WV hen it is desired to cut down the draft in the furnace, the chain is lowered to close the door 26, this lowering action lifting the flue end of the chain and, with it, the primary and supplemental batlie plates, accentuating the tortuosity of the passage to limit the draft. This closing of the platesprorides additional surface for contact by the particles of carbon escaping from the furnace, so that at such times as incomplete combustion is liable to occur in the furnace, the baiiies are in the most advantageous position for catching and returning the particles of unburned carbon.

As the unburned carbon escaping from the furnace in the form of soot w'll be interrupt- 7 ed in flow by the under surfaces of the battle plates and drop therefrom onto the tops of the plates below, accumulation will occur, so that it is necessary that the plates be cleaned from time to time. This cleaning is effected by jets of steam or water delivered from the branch pipes which form the mountings for the battle plates and under the control of the valve in the supply pipe. As the accumulated carbon is, for the'most part, combustible, 1 provide for returning it through the vent pipe leading from the bottom of the housing back to the furnace where it is spread into the fire box for consumption with the primary fuel.

If the plates are to be cleaned at a time when the furnace is not in operation, the drained mixture of water and carbon can be conducted off through the waste connection 35.

It is apparent that with my arrangement, I may provide any suitable degree of draft, and that whatever the arrangement of the battle plates, escape of unburned particles of carbon is prevented, to save the waste in fuel and avoid escape of .such unburned particles from the flue in the form of smoke.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a housing, a pipe extending longitudinally of the housing and having branches extending into the housing and provided withjet openings, baffle plates having ears pivotally mounted on said branches to suspend the plates, a chain connected with one of the baffle plates on each of the branches, and a. flexible member connected with said chain and extending to the exterior of the housing, whereby all of the battle plates are simultaneously adjusted.

:2. In apparatus of the character described, a housing, a series of tubes arranged in vertically spaced relation within the housings and provided with jet openings, a pair of battle plates pivotally mounted on each tube of the series, means connecting corresponding battle plates of the several pairs, other means connecting the other battle plates of the pairs, and single means for simultaneously adjusting both of the connecting means.

3. In combination with a furnace having a draft door, a flue, a housing, a smoke pipe leading from the furnace to the housing, a water pipe having branches extending in vertical alignment centrally of the housing, a pair of ba-fiie plates pivotally suspended from each of the branches, battle plates piv otally suspended at the sides of the housing and meshing with the first-named baflie plates, flexible connection between each vertical series of battle plates, a cross bar connected with all of said connections, and a flexible connection leading from the cross bar to the draft door for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED D. HOFFMAN. 

